Automobile-top.



B. H. ALVEY. AUTOMOBILE TOP. APPLICATIQN FILED MAR/24. 1915..

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I ;[wven Cor."

B. H. ALVE Y. AUTOMOBILE TOP. 1 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 1s1s.'

Patented J an. 1, 1918.

s; H. ALVEY. -AUTOMOB|LE TOP. APPLI'CATION F-ILED MAR. 24. 19-16.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918;

4 sums-81mm- 3 B. H. ALVEY.-

AUTOMQBILE TOP) APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1M6.

Patented Jah. 1918.

4 sums-8min 4.

alto: no l I f gpen or close the car to or against the atmos- BENJAMIN n. ALVEY, or LooIsvInLE, xnn'rocxr.

AUTOMDBILE-TOIE -ZW- Specification ot ptten Iatcnt. Patented J an. 1', 1918.

p Application fled March 24 me. Serial n. 50,414.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN H. ALVEY, agitizen of the United States, residing at Louisvillekin the county of Jefierson and State of entucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Tops, of which the following is a: specification.

This invention relates to vehicle tops, and particularly to tops for automobiles of the style commonly known as inclosed or winter cars, and consists in certain peculiarities in the construction and arrangement of parts and in certain novel combinations of elements substantially as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the subjoin claims.

The principal or ultimate objectof the invention is to provide a top of the style stated which will afford adequate protection against cold and damp weatherand present anappearance substantially equalto that of the best styles and grades of glass inclosed tops, and at the same time will be much less expensive and more durable, and much more easily opened up to afiord circulation oflair therethrough, when desired. I I i Another of the inaportant objects of'the invention is to provi e, in a top having cur- .tains arranged to beraised or lowered to ere, means of most practicable nature for guiding the curtains in their movement between their open"and.clgsed positions, the said means being of such nature as to cause the curtains to move smoothly-and easily and avoid alldanger or posjibility of creasing, binding or pinching of the curtains at any place.

like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the severalviews:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3.- v

Fig. 2 is a p an view with the top coverin%and upper stripsremoved.

ig. 3 18.2-131311SV8I'S6 section on the line 33 of'Fig. 1, looking toward the front of the car.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the back curtain, on the line 44= of Fig. 1. i Fig. 5 is a detail sectional-view of one end of one of the forward side curtains and a part'of the wind shield on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing the connection of the front end of said curtain and the wind shield.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 7. Fi 7 is a detail view, in elevation, showing e .lower end of one of the transverse bows, with anti-friction rollers, a part of "the rail and a standard, together with means These important objects, a'hd others whichwill be apparent to those persons who are secured from the construction and arrange ment of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described in detail, but I would have it understoodthat familiar'with the present invention, are sbest' this construction and arrangement of parts ismerely exemplary and that changes may be made in the details and that the invention may be otherwise and variously embodied without departing from its spirit or the scope of the subjoinedclai'ms. In the accompanying drawings, wherein for connecting the standard.

Fi 8 is a transverse section through the stan ard shown in'Fig. 7, on the line 88 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail view, showing the lower part of ,a standard in elevation, and also showing the adjacent portion of the body in section, this view illustrating the manner of connecting the standard to the body.

Fig. 10 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, ill of. a standard to the body when viewed at right angles to Fig. 9 and also illustrating thg lower end of side curtains in the standar v Fig. 11 is a detail View showingthe stiffened lower end of a curtain on longitudinal section, with a hand hold thereon.

Fi 12 is a perspective view of an automobile provided with my improved top.

A designates the body of the vehicle and B the top considered as a whole. This top is of rigid or non-folding type. -It is rovided at each side with curtains marked b and b? respectively and at the back with a curtain marked 6'.

These curtains are so arranged'that the top may be closed in or artly or completely opened at the sides and ack, to suit yarying weather conditions.

the rail to the upper end of I ustratlng the connection curtains 6- around the bends. The latter guiding means comprising two complementary series of idlers, marked 21 for each lateral edge of the curtain b, these idlers being carried by plates 23' which respectively are attached to short bent frame members 23 as will be seen upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2; The lateral edges of the back curtain b-' below the uiding means last referred to. instead traveling in grooves formed in standards extend into 3 pockets 24 suitably formed in the uarters iastenings. 31 are I? V closed position; These *fast'enmgs may be buttons of the type commonly employed for -holding automobile curtains in position.

6" of the top as shownin Fig. 4. uitable rovided on the quarters andrear curtain or securing tlielatter in For a purpose which will later appear there are no standards provided for the front edges of the forward side curtains b.

"Each of the curtains ismade principally. of a suitable transparent-material 25celluloid' being preferred-there preferably being'in practice only suilicient curtaining materral 32.1 to form a; proper framing for the i l; transparent material, s thereby enhancing I thedooks of the near; andfconducing to z rthe-flcomfortofthew'paissengers. Each; side 85" p 'upoiitheu perred'ge pfijthe body or the up J holstery yw en:th'e{ curtain is lowered. 'The' curtain bandj blis provi U ded, below the, transparent material'witli strip 26 .01 approxippsition, being so,

with relation tothe si' e curtains. *As.13,customaryf n therconstruction of antomobile; bodies andftopsthe sides ofthe body Aat the -irohttofl e car are curved toward eachother a and as it is'desirable that the forward curto such shape and at the same time be arran ed to be fully and easily I raised and lowerer the said forward. cur-'1 tains are each provided with two separate ,thetop slopes down ward toward the tram: For these reasons,

ta ins b. conform sheets of transparent material. the confront ing vertical edges of which are secured to a. flexible frame strip 30. These frame A strips are arranged intermediate the length of the respective curtains 7) and substantial] in linewith the laces where the sides of t e body curve inward toward each other. Each of" these'curtains b has a rem i'nforcing strip 26 which corresponds to the strips 26 of the other curtains, but which terminates with its forward end substantially ,in vertical alinement with the frame strip $0, instead of extending entirely across the curtain. The forward portion of the Woo h h m n- 113 .Serves as; a stop to am is in its lowermost f jari'anged that it rests if desired, beipror. like those descrlhed curtain hence conforms to the shape of the body without'danger of breaking the celluloid or transparent material of which it is largely composed. The vertical edges or these forward side curtains b are provided ,with strips b whichmay be suitably secured by ap ropriate fastening elements I) projecting mm the frame 'of the wind shield (as shown in Figs-3 aud t), These stri' b 'are' of substantiall the len h of t ecurtains'b' and closet espaoes tween said curtains and the ends of theiwind shield. 3 In order to avoid the necessity Of. ,ll8iV1l]g the curtains themselves run upon ,the "rollers 8. and 9 the upper edges of the curtains are connected with the rollers by flexible sheets of suitable material as -lineng. 91".tllQYllke,

and so arrange the rollers and therel'ative lengths of the curtains and strips} that the 3 strips only -will run upon therollers, the.

curtains themselves beingnever rolled. "The.

strips for all the curtains except those at the front are marked 29. Thesestrips .29- are of substantially thesaine'width as nature tains to which they'respectively-ar'ej; urea and hence adapted torollf'emoothl the rollers; hence, aid the channela ndpasges inca'u'sing} 'tlidcurt 'ai we ned-hwy: i tent n1 niwbu ld be. poss ble" .y o 6' e a 'lbppo t md i tains." Th'sirollers 81 forith curtains t am inclined? down a their rearflends, so as tofglie in" with the adjacent par the a p w k l Jiig';1 v Toi au Jth notwithstanding is connectedwith its muerbytwqf se arate} itslength substantially the" part of the curtain b from th the latter to the intermediate'fraui' efstrip 30 and thest'rip 29'jbeing out on a bias from its roller 8 to its curtain, as sha l 1nFig.2. Each curtain-is provided with hand holds 27 for convenience in-raising and lowering it. These hand holds are'secured'bysuib.

width b that e rear edge of.

able fastenings which extend into' the stifiillustrated and" set forth in detail iswell calculated to carry into practice in a most practicable manner the several purposes 1'n view yet changes may be made without de- 5 parting from the spirit-of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Having now described the invention what I believe to be new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a vehicle top, a. curtain arranged to' be raisedor' lowered, and means forming channels at opposite sides of the curtain openings to receive the longitudinal edges of I the curtain, themeans forming each of said relatively disposed 'to present a laterally open, arcuate passage having rollin walls to engage the adjacent portions of the curtains. I r

2. In a vehicle top, the combination with standards and hows, the latterhaving arouate portions, ofa curtain arranged to be raised or lowered, and means for guiding the curtain in an arcuate path while it is being raised orlowered, comprising two sets of stub shafts, having idler rollers thereon, one set being mounted at each side of the curtainopening and upon the side faces of the arcuate portions of the bows, the rollers of each set lyin in two concentric rows, and the: rollers 0 one row being 5 aced from the rollers of the other row to t ereby constitute a laterally open passage by which the adjacent portion of the curtain is guided.

' 3. In a vehicle top, the combination with a series of transverse bows having arcuate portions, of plates secured to; the side faces of said arcuate portions, outwardly-projectin stub shaftscarried bysaid plates and ro lers' journaled upon said stub shafts and arranged in spaced'relation and in two concentric arcuate rows to constitute-between thein a passageway which opens laterally with respect to the curtain opening toward which said rollers face.

.4, 'In. a vehicle top, a curtain arrangedjo be raised or lowered and having enlarged longitudinal edge portions, and two 'series'of short freely rotatable rolle at each side'jjof f i bo the curtain opening, the rdi lers ofifeacli two series being correlated to provide an arcuate space having va laterally mouth, the said spacesflieing disposed to receive the adjacent enlar ed longitudinal edge portions of the curtain,- and'the portions of the curtain contiguous to saidedgs extending through the mouth, whereby acci dental displacement of the curtain is avoided and said curtain. is guided in I an arcuate path.

In a vehicle top, a curtain arranged to be raised or lowered-and having-reinforced longitudinal edges, and means for guiding the curtain in an arcuate path while the curchan'nels including two series of short'rollers -gitudim' lly thereof at a downward incl naopen restricted tain is bein raised or lowered, the said means inclu ing two series of grooved idler rollers at each side of the curtain, each panof series of rollers being relatively arranged to form, substantially, an arcuate passage which receives the adjacent reinforced edge of the curtain and has a-restricted mouth.

6. In a vehicle top, a curtain arranged to be raised or loweredand having reinforced longitudinal edges, and means for guiding the curtain in an arcuate path while the curtain'jis being raised or lowered, the said means including arcuate members adjacent to the longitudinal edges of the curtain, each nrcuate member having two series of idler rollers mounted to rotate on approximately horizontal axes, each roller comprising an being relatively arranged substantially to provide an arcuate passage, said passages communicating with, the channels in the standards, respectively, and a curtain having reinforced longitudinal edges respec'- tively arranged to travel in the grooves of the standards and between the complementaryjseries of idlers,- and to be guided thereby. p

' 8. 1n avehicle top,ia roller extending lon m5 tion,, a?"ciirtain bendablevertically on a line between its ends, and two flexible strips of material connecting opposite end portions of; the roller with correspondin portions of thecurtain, one ofvsaid' strips ing cut on 7 n a vehicle to'p ,,a roller, a curtain dist the 'junctureof the front and side portioiia; of thy-vehicle and lying partly ,alon the side and partly across the front and onnections whereby said curtain may be wound upon said roller;

10, In a vehicle top, a roller, a curtain dis posed' a't the juncture of'the front and side portions, of the vehicle and lying partly along tlie side and partly across the front and"eo'nnections whereby said curtain may be wound upon said roller, said connections comprising two flexible strips of material )0: connecting opposite end portions of the roller with corresponding portions of the curtain,

'one'of said strips beingcuton a bias.

having an outer covering sheet of metal-and 11061; extending from the standard into the 10 a backing member for said sheet, the backpocket and having its inner end received by ing member having an "11' wardly open said aperture in the element. pocket and ,a, roove exten ing item the In testimony whereof I affix my signature 5 pocket, :1 metafiic element arranged-in the in the'presenceof two witnesses. I groove and extending into the pocket, the 1 BENJAMIN H. ALVEY. "portion of-the element in the pocketfhaving Witnesses; an aperture, 9. standard mounted on the edge L. M. PRICE, of the body adjacent to the pocket and a I EVELYN Amms. 

